Adjustable chock.



O. E. BERRY.

ADJUSTABLE CHUCK.

APPLIOATION FILED 111111 21, 1911.

1,011,726. Patented Dec.12,1911

STATES PATENT OFFICE.

n, BERRY, or soMERvIL E,MASSACHUSETTS.

following; is a specification.

The in'ventiOn relateS to an adjustable chock for boats and otherpurposes.

The object of thepresent invention is to improve the construction ofehocks for hawser ropes, cables, tow lines and the like,

- and toprovide an adjustable chock, adapted to be readily arranged toform an open or closed chock, and capable of permitting a rope or cableto slide freely through it in either adjustment.

A' further obj'ect 'of the invention is to provide a chock of thischaracter, adapted when closed to effectually prevent a rope or cablefrom accidentally springing out of engagement with it, and capable ,whenin such closed positionof enabling a boat to be securely ftiedto,awharf, or other fixed obj ect and located above the plane of the deckto which the chock is secured.

Vith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in. theconstruction and novel combinationo'f'parts hereinafter fully described,illustrated in the accompanying a drawing, and pointed out in the claimsheretoappended; it being understood that various changes in the form,proportion,

' size and minor details of" construction,

.within the scope of'the claims, may be resorted to without departingfrom the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention. gIn the drawing z Figure 1 is a side elevation of an adjustable chock,constructed in accordance with this invention, and shown open. Fig.2f'is aplan view, the chock'being closed. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional View on the line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail perspectiveview of the base plate or body. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view onthe line 5-5 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a similar view on the line 6-6 of Fig.3.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all thefigures of the drawing.

In the accompanying drawing in which is illustrated the preferredembodiment of the invention, 1 designates a substantially oblong baselate, having-a flat lower face and provided at its ends withperforations Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 21, 1911.

ADJusTABLE oHocK.

Patented Dec. 12, 1911.

Serial No. 616,003.

2 for the reception of bolts, or other suitable fastening meansforsecuring the device to the deck or other portion of a boat. The plate orbody 1, which is constructed of suitable metal, is provided at one endwith a rigid jaw 3, extending upwardly from the base and inwardly overthe same and preferably tapered, as clearly shown in Fig. l of thedrawing. The outer face of the rigid integral jaw is convex, and theinner face 4 is flared at opposite sides at 5 to permit a rope or cableto run freely through the chock and to avoid presenting sharp edges tothe rope or cable. The upper face 6 of the base plate is curvedtransversely to present a convex face, and mounted upon such convex faceand cooperating with the fixed jaw is an adjustable jaw 7, tapered inside elevation and extending upwardly from the base plate and inwardlyover the same in the direction of the fixed jaw 3. The base or body ofthe adjustable jaw 7 is enlarged, and its lower face is curvedtransversely to present a concave bottom face 8, which conforms to theconfiguration of the convex upper face 6 of the base plate, asclearlyillustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawing. The adjustable jaw is slidablealong the base to and from the fixed jaw, and it is adapted to bearranged contiguous to the same to positively confine a rope or cable inthe chock, and at the same time permit the said rope or cable to slidefreely through the device. lVhen the chock is closed, it will beimpossible for a rope, cable, or tow line to become accidentallydisengaged from the device. "When the adjustable jaw is open and spacedfrom the fixed jaw, as illus-' trated in Fig. 1 of the drawing, thedevice operates simllar toan ordinary open chock, and a rope or cablemay be readily introduced into and removed from the space between thejaws 3 and 7.

The adjustable jaw is slidably connected with the base b means of adove-tailed slide 9, consisting 0 an oppositely beveled block fittedinand slidable along a longitudinal slot 10 of the base plate. The sidewalls of the slot are upwardly and inwardly 1nclined to correspond withthe inclination of the side edges of the dove-tailed slide, which issecured to the bottom of the adjustable jaw by means of a screw 11,piercing the slide and engaging a threaded perforation vl2 of theenlarged bottom portion of the adjustable jaw. The slide is alsoprovided with a rigid. projection 13, fitting in a perforation-14 ofgthebottom of-the adjustable jaw, whereby the latter is locked againstrota'ry movement on the slide.- The 'head of the-screw 11 iscounter-sunk in the lowerface of the slide, but any'other suitable meansmaybe lemployed for securing the slide and the jaw =1 together.. Theslide'interlocks 'the adjustable jaw with the base plate and moves inthe slot 10 whenfthe. adjustable jawis opened or closed.

The adjustable "jaw is provided with, a gravity catch 15, approximatelyL-shaped, as clearly shown in Fig.3 of the drawing, and providedadjacent to its angle with a laterally projecting pivot 16, fitted.inspaced bearing recesses 17 locatedfat opposite sides of a slot 18through which the catch-passes.

.The engaging arm 19 of the catch is'later-f ally enlarged, being,approximately T- shaped, and it operates in an' enla r ed portion-20 ofthe slot 18, as clearly' s own in Fig. f the drawing. The operating arm,which is longer than the engaging arm, extends outwardly through theslot 18 and has suificient weight toswing' the engaging arm inwardlytotthe inner transverse wall oft-heenlarged. portion 20 ofthe slot to aposition for engaging opposite notches I 21 and 22 of the base plate.The notches 21 are located at the inner end .of the slot and formshoulders at opposite sides of the same,

and is engaged by the catch when the adjustable jaw is in its.closedposition. The other notches 22 are engaged by the .gravlty catchwhen the adjustable jaw is moved out- I ward toitsopen position. Theshoulders formed by the notches are slightly inclined to enable thegravity catch to be readily The outward pressure or strain on theadlifted outof engagement with the notches.

justable jawfirmlymaintains the catch in engagement with the saidnotches, so that there is no liability of the adjustable jaw slippingoutward accident-ally.

While the adjustable choc-leis designed primarily for use "on boats, itmay be advantageou'sly employed for various other 'pur-- poses, as it isadapted to-form a closed rope to release! a rope or c able whendesired.- Y

chock or guide and may be quicklyopened Having thus fully described myimrentio'n,'- What I claim as new and ;dcsire to secure by LettersPatent, is V 1. adjustable chock comprising a base plate provided .at.one end with a'. fixed curved jaw, said base plate b ei ng extendedbeyond the fixed jaw and provided with a longitudinal guiding slot, acurved adjustable jaw slidable along the extended por- .tion of the baseplate and movable toward .and from the fixed jaw'so as to provide 21-circular opening when the jaws are closed and an elongated opening whenthe jaws are open, means operating in the slot for guiding theadjustable jaw, and a device to lock the adjustable jawineither'position;

2. An adjustable chock including a base plate provided at one-end with afixed proecting jaw and having a longitudinal slot at the other end, anadjustable jaw seated.

upon the base plate "and extended toward thev fixed jaw and movable toand from the' same 'to. form an open or closed chock,- a

slide operating in the-slot and interlocked with the base plateandconnected with the adjustable jaw, and a catch mounted on the adjustablejaw 'and'arranged "to engage the base plate for lockingthe adjustablejaw.

3. An adjustable chockincluding a base plate provided with a fixedprojecting jaw and having a longitudinal slot and provided at oppositesides thereof with notches, an adjustable jaw slidable along the baseand provided with a slot, a? slide interlocked with'the walls of the'.longitudinal slot and connected with the adjustable jaw, and a gravitycatch fulcrumed in the slot of the adjustable jaw and having an exteriorope n l crating arm, and an interiorly.arrangedjena lock. the adjustablejaw;

gaging arm co-acting with the notches to 4- An adjust-able chockincluding base plate having a fixed jaw and provided with In testimony,that I claim the foregoing .as my own, I have hereto .aflixed mysignaturein the presence of two witnesses.

I oHAn EsE. BERRY. Witnesses: i i

L. G. GREEN, Grouse W. Snow. 7

